PRSS-1

The Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1), is a Pakistani earth observation optical satellite launched from China's Jiuquan Satellite Centre on 9 July 2018.^[1]

PRSS-1

Mission type	Earth observation satellite Geographic information systems
Operator	SUPARCO
COSPAR ID	2018-056B
SATCAT no.	43530
Website	http://prss.pk
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	DFH Satellite Co. Ltd.
Power	600 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	9 July 2018, 03:56:10 UTC
Rocket	Long March 2C
Launch site	Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Contractor	China
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Altitude	700 km
Inclination	38.280°
Period	99.31 minutes

History

After the successful launch and operation of Badr satellite programme which contained the experimental Low Earth Observational satellites in the 1990s and early 2000s, SUPARCO launched the work on the high resolution Remote Sensing Satellite to meet the national and international user requirements in the field of satellite imagery.^[2]

The PRSS program was planned to be a progressive and sustainable program with an initial plan to launch an optical satellite with payload of 2.5 metre PAN in 700 km Sun-synchronous orbit by the end of year 2014, which will be followed by a series of optical and SAR satellites. Necessary infrastructure for ground control, image reception and processing was also planned to be set up.^[2]

According to SUPARCO, the first satellite of this program was launched in 2018, envisioned to provide help in exploiting the potentials of space technologies for natural resource surveying and environmental purpose.^[3]

Launch date

On 9 July 2018 at 03:56:10 UTC, China successfully launched two remote sensing satellites for Pakistan, which were launched to monitor progress as they build the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, an extensive multibillion-dollar infrastructure development project between the two nations. The satellites were named PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A, and were launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China using a Long March 2C launch vehicle. The PRSS-1 is China's first optical remote sensing satellite sold to Pakistan. It is the 17th satellite developed by the China Academy of Space Technology for an overseas buyer, while PakTES-1A is an experimental satellite developed by Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).^[4][5]